Dioxygen Monofluoride: Infrared Spectrum, Vibrational Potential Function, and Bonding

Abstract

Photolysis of F2 and O2 suspended in solid N2, Ar, or O2 produces infrared absorptions of an oxyfluoride other than OF2 and O2F2. Isotopic labeling, concentration dependence, diffusion behavior, and normal coordinate analysis permit assignment of these bands, at 1499.7, 586.4, and 376.0 cm−1, to O2F. On diffusion at low temperatures, this molecule forms only loosely bound aggregates, (O2F)n, though it is a free radical. Normal coordinate analysis shows that the O–O bond of O2F is a double bond, like those in O2 and in O2F2 and that the OF bond is much weaker than those in OF2. Thus, O2F resembles O2F2 in its bonding.